Friday, November 24, 2017

And this is why I never get anything done!

Aka how I get easily distracted...

So there was I was reading Facebook and the above picture showed up in my feed. Canadian Sherman tanks with green and tan camouflage and the Canadian flag? Hold on, wasn't the Canadian flag introduced in 1965? What were Sherman's doing in Canadian service that late?

A little online researched turned up that these Shermans were part of the Ontario Regiment (RCAC) based in my hometown of Oshawa, Ontario. It also noted that the Regiment operated Shermans until 1972. Wowie. Further researched turned up the following picture...

Those gates look familiar, isn't that the Parkwood Estate is Oshawa? Indeed it is. These photos were all taken on September 11, 1971, when the regiment paraded in honor of R. Samuel McLaughlin’s 100th birthday. (McLaughlin was a Canadian industrial titan and honorary Colonel of the Ontario Regiment.)

So now I have to build one of these Shermans. Looks like I am looking for a M4A3 "Easy 8." But what scale? Trumpeter does one in 1/72. Hobby Boss does one in 1/48. Tamiya does one in 1/35.

1/72 Pros: Matches most of the aircraft. Pretty cheap kit. Not too many parts. (And if I want to expand the armor collection Dragon makes a Churchill. (A tank I'm oddly attracted to.))

1/72 Cons: Tiny. It will be hard to see the little maple leaf which is a feature of interest.

1/48 Pros: Decent size. Matches a few of the 1/48 fighters. Not too expensive.

1/48 Cons: None noted, but it I want to expand the collection I don't think anyone does a Churchill.

1/35 Pros: It is Tamiya.

1/35 Cons: Expensive and a totally new scale that doesn't match any of my airplanes.

Oh, man, I don't need this kind of distraction! I guess check back to see what develops on the armor front. (And if anyone has any suggestions about the appropriate scale, let me know.)

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About Me

An expat Canadian now living in Seattle, Jim builds RCAF, RCN, US Navy, and Commonwealth aircraft in 1/72 scale. Jim is an avid reader and a sometimes writer, a fan of rock, folk, and jam bands, and a private pilot. When he’s not exploring one of the many museums, parks, and libraries of Puget Sound with his daughter, Jim is a practicing attorney.